France says Congo election delay not answer to crisis

A decision to push back presidential elections in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to 2018 is not the answer to the crisis there and risks fuelling an escalation in violence, French foreign minister Jean-Marc Ayrault said.
The Constitutional Court in Democratic Republic of Congo said on Monday it had approved a petition by the electoral commission to delay a presidential election set for November, allowing President Joseph Kabila to remain in office until April 2018.
"There is only way to get out of the crisis and that is that president does not present himself and arranges... read more

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A decision to push back presidential elections in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to 2018 is not the answer to the crisis there and risks fuelling an escalation in violence, French foreign minister Jean-Marc Ayrault said.
The Constitutional Court...

Smoke billowed in the air as tyres burned in the streets of Kinshasa, where police in riot gear and armed presidential guards were deployed.
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Congo's opposition parties called the protests on Monday in a bid to stop pro-government legislators approving a reform of the electoral code that would require a national census before the presidential vote. The opposition says that would delay the...

France said on Tuesday it was time to prevent the political situation worsening in Democratic Republic of Congo and consider imposing European Union sanctions.
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Eight democracy activists were arrested in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo on Wednesday before a planned demonstration against the delay of the presidential election, fellow activists said.
President Joseph Kabila has ruled Congo since 2001 and...

"It won't resolve itself," he said.
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France, a...